50+ things to do in Southeast Texas this week

Published 8:30 am, Friday, September 7, 2012

Tailgaters party outside the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont before the Lamar game against Stephen F. Austin, Saturday, November 5, 2011. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise

Tailgaters party outside the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont before the Lamar game against Stephen F. Austin, Saturday, November 5, 2011. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise

Photo: TAMMY MCKINLEY

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Lamar tailgaters party before the game against Stephen F. Austin at the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont, Saturday, November 5, 2011. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise

Lamar tailgaters party before the game against Stephen F. Austin at the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont, Saturday, November 5, 2011. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise

Photo: TAMMY MCKINLEY

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A curious youth stops to watch a re-enactor during the Dick Dowling Days at Gladys City in 2008.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

A curious youth stops to watch a re-enactor during the Dick Dowling Days at Gladys City in 2008.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Photo: Beaumont

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After 25 years of creativity, education and inspiration, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas is celebrating with its, "Come Fly With Us," gala on September 7. The gala will recognize former, local artist Paul Manes whose painting Daedalus greets guests as they enter the museum.
Photo taken Friday, August 31, 2012
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

After 25 years of creativity, education and inspiration, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas is celebrating with its, "Come Fly With Us," gala on September 7. The gala will recognize former, local artist Paul ... more

BENEFIT Fried fish dinner, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 9505 College St. Fried catfish fillets, french fries, cole slaw and tea for $8. Dine in or take out. (409) 866-9390.

BENEFIT "Come Fly With Us," the Art Museum of Southeast Texas 25th Anniversary Gala, Sept. 7 at the museum, 500 Main St. The black-tie event features a cocktail hour, featuring music by the Night and Day Orchestra, at 6:30 p.m., a seated dinner, a silent auction and dancing to the 80 Proof Band, 9 p.m.-midnight. This year's honoree is Texas artist Paul Manes. Reservations $200 per person. Tables for 8 available for $1,600-$10,000. For reservations, call (409) 832-3432 or www.amset.org.

THEATER "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," a musical comedy about a crafty slave in ancient Rome who undergoes a journey filled with sexual temptations and limitless obstacles in order to obtain freedom from his master, will be presented by the Beaumont Community Players at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7-8, Sept. 14, and Sept. 20-22 and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in the McFaddin-Ward Auditorium of the Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 4155 Laurel St. Tickets $12, $22 and $25. (409) 833-4664 or www.beaumontcommunityplayers.com.

COMMUNITY Wildcatter Weekend: Anthony Lucas Day, a celebration of the life and achievements of Capt. Anthony F. Lucas, the engineer who was in charge of drilling the historic Spindletop well, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 8, at Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Museum, 5550 University Drive off U.S. 69. The event features recently discovered personal papers and photographs, the 21st Century Wildcatter Challenge, an engineering and design challenge that uses household items, at 1 and 2:30 p.m., cookies and lemonade and a gusher re-enactment at 4 p.m. Reservations encouraged, but not required for activity sessions. Free. (409) 880-1750 or www.spindletop.org.

COMMUNITY Dick Dowling Chapter 404 United Daughters of the Confederacy Beaumont will meet for installation of new officers at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 8 at Collier Park Retirement Center, 4650 Collier St. Following the meeting, members will carpool to Sabine Pass for a memorial service and reenactment of the Battle of Sabine Pass at 2 p.m. There will be a Dutch treat lunch along the way. (409) 724-7315.

FOOTBALL McNeese State University, 4205 Ryan St., Lake Charles, La., will host musicians from 31 high schools across Louisiana and Texas as the All-Star High School Marching Band performs during the halftime show at the McNeese-McMurray football game at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Cowboy Stadium at McNeese. Among the Texas high school bands represented are Barbers Hill, Buna, Deweyville, Diboll, Hull-Daisetta, Kountze, Liberty, Little Cypress Mauriceville, Orangefield, Warren and West Orange Stark. (337) 475-5428.

LITERATURE East Texas Book Fest, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Ornelas Activity Center, 3402 Old Omen Road, Tyler. The event offers workshops and seminars with award-winning and best-selling Texas authors will autograph books offer proven strategies about writing, illustrating and publishing books for all ages and in many genres. Free. (905) 565-6655.

COMMUNITY Movie: "Crossroads of the Big Thicket," featuring stories of some of the Big Thicket's most famous and infamous characters, 1 p.m. Sept. 9 and 23 at the Big Thicket Visitor Center, 6044 FM 420, near Kountze. Free. (409) 951-6700.

COMMUNITY The South East Texas Black Nurses will meet at 4 p.m. Sept. 9 in the Founders Room in the Professional Building at the Renaissance Hospital, 5500 39th St., Groves. Licensed nurses and student nurses are welcome to attend. (409) 982-3771.

COMMUNITY Suicide Survivor Support Group meeting, for a family member or friend of a person who died by suicide, at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at the office of Christy Mellen, M.Ed., LPC, 3650 Delaware, Suite 104. All meetings are confidential. (409) 833-9657.

COMMUNITY The Nederland Friends of the Library will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Marion and Ed Hughes Public Library, 2712 Nederland Ave., Nederland. New members welcome. Memberships $7 for individuals; $14 for families; business/professional $30; industry $75; sponsor $150. (409) 722-1255 or www.ned.lib.tx.us/friends.html

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS Sugar Skulls Workshop, a two-day workshop, 5-7 p.m. Sept. 11 and 13 at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, 500 Main St. Learn how to create classic Mexican sugar skulls from molds Sept. 11, learn how to make the special frosting and decorate skulls, Sept. 13. Reservations are encouraged due to limited seating. Members $10, non-members $25. (409) 832-3432 or www.amset.org.

COMMUNITY Del Papa Distributing Company will host its annual, "This Blood's For You" blood drive at 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 11 at LifeShare Blood Center, 4305 Laurel St., and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 11 in the hospitality room at the Del Papa Beaumont Distribution Center, 410 I-10 South. The event is in honor of first responders and in remembrance of those who gave their lives Sept. 11, 2001. (409) 842-5215 or (409) 838-5289.

COMMUNITY Temple to the Brave, a memorial museum to the Texas soldiers of all wars, in Pipkin Patriots Park, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., is open 2-5 p.m. Sept. 11. Free. (409) 880-1713.

COMMUNITY Beaumont Texas A&M Mother's Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in the cafeteria at St. Anne Catholic School, 375 North 11th St. Parking available in the lot off of 13th Street. The Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month. New members welcome. (409) -866-2392.

COMMUNITY Port Arthur Christian Women luncheon, 11:45 a.m. Sept. 14 at the Pompano Club, 330 Twin City Highway, Port Neches. Debbie Monaham will give a talk entitled, "Dealing with Clutter in Your Life." Allen Cade will provide the music. Cost $15. Reservations are necessary for the luncheon and for the nursery, if needed. Reservation deadline is Sept. 11. (409) 722-0951 or (409) 962-5571.

COMMUNITY Kids' Library Program, 10:30 a.m. Sept. 12 and Oct. 10 at the Elmo Willard Library, 3590 East Lucas St. A ranger from the Big Thicket National Preserve will present a program about the animals and plants of the Big Thicket. Free. (409) 951-6700.

RELIGION Unity of Southeast Texas will join Silent Unity, an international, trans-denominational 24/7 prayer ministry, and spiritual communities worldwide Sept. 13 for the 19th Annual Unity World Day of Prayer which unites people of all faiths in prayer for the well-being of one another and the world. The 2012 Unity World Day of Prayer theme is "The Universe is Calling," drawn from the book by the late Rev. Eric Butterworth. Unity of Southeast Texas, 1555 South 23rd St., will host a prayer vigil, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., followed by a service 6-6:30 p.m. Sept. 12. There will be candles, meditative music, inspirational reading matter and writing material. Those at Silent Unity will hold these names and prayer requests in continuous prayer for 24 hours, after which the names will be placed in the Silent Unity Prayer Vigil Chapel for ongoing prayer over the next 30 days. Anyone who would like to submit a prayer request or names for prayer to Silent Unity may call (800) 669-7729 or go to www.worlddayofprayer.org. (409) 842-0271.

THURSDAY

COMMUNITY The Hebert High School Alumni Association will have a board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at West Tabernacle Baptist Church, 3605 Waco St. The general meeting will be at 7 p.m. The next mass reunion will be June 26-30 at Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 3950 Interstate 10 South at Walden Road. (409) 351-4361 or heberthighalumni.org

EDUCATION There will be two parent training sessions on the characteristics of dyslexia, 10-11:30 a.m. and 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Little Cypress Mauriceville CISD Education Center, MLK and FM 1130, Orange. Information will include awareness of characteristics of dyslexia and related disorders, information on testing and diagnosis of dyslexia, information on effective strategies for teaching dyslexic students, and awareness of information on modification, especially modifications allowed on standardized testing. (409) 883-6970.

PARADE Businesses and organizations wishing to participate in the annual Texas Pecan Festival Parade at 10 a.m. Sept. 22 in Groves, may register at the Groves Chamber of Commerce, 4399 Main Ave., Groves, and pick up a packet with the parade route and rules by Sept. 19. (409) 962-3631.

POLITICAL The Progressive Democrats of Southeast Texas will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Beaumont Club, 590 Orleans St. Democratic activists supporting candidates in Jefferson County with "Get Out the Vote" and candidate information. www.pdsetex.org.